Managing uplink timing advance configuration

Abstract

Various embodiments include methods for managing uplink timing advance configuration of wireless devices by a base station. A wireless device may send an initial access signal to a base station, receive from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal, and send to the base station a next signal comprising a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) waveform via uplink (UL) receive (Rx) points over two or more beams. The base station may receive the next signal including the PRACH waveform via the two or more UL Rx points, select a refined timing advance value based on the signal, and send the refined timing advance value to the wireless device. The wireless device may receive the refined timing advance value and send a further signal to the base station via one of the UL Rx points using the refined timing advance.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by a processor of a wireless device for managing uplink timing advance configuration, comprising:
 sending an initial access signal to a base station; 
 receiving from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal; 
 sending to the base station a next signal comprising a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) waveform via two or more uplink (UL) receive (Rx) points over two or more beams; 
 receiving from the base station a refined timing advance value corresponding to one of the two or more UL Rx points; and 
 sending a further signal to the base station via one of the two or more UL Rx points using the refined timing advance value. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal comprises receiving from the base station a dedicated Random Access Channel (RACH) occasion, a PRACH format, and a PRACH sequence for the next signal; and 
 sending to the base station the next signal comprises sending the next signal using the dedicated RACH occasion, PRACH format, and PRACH sequence. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal comprises receiving from the base station a number of repetitions for the next signal; and 
 sending to the base station the next signal comprises sending the next signal using the number of repetitions. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal comprises receiving from the base station a number of beam sweeps for the next signal; and 
 sending to the base station the next signal comprises sending the next signal using the number of beam sweeps. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal comprises receiving from the base station a plurality of PRACH formats for the next signal; and 
 sending to the base station the next signal comprises sending the plurality of PRACH formats. 
 
     
     
       6. A method performed by a processor of a base station for managing uplink timing advance configuration, comprising:
 receiving an initial access signal from a wireless device; 
 sending to the wireless device an initial timing advance value based on the initial access signal; 
 receiving from the wireless device a next signal comprising a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) waveform via two or more uplink (UL) receive (Rx) points over two or more beams; 
 selecting a refined timing advance value based on the next signal received via the two or more UL Rx points, wherein the refined timing advance value corresponds to a UL Rx point from among the two or more UL Rx points; and 
 sending the refined timing advance value to the wireless device. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein sending to the wireless device an initial timing advance value based on the initial access signal comprises sending to the wireless device a dedicated Random Access Channel (RACH) occasion, a PRACH format, and a PRACH sequence for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein sending to the wireless device an initial timing advance value based on the initial access signal comprises sending to the wireless device a number of repetitions for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein sending to the wireless device an initial timing advance value based on the initial access signal comprises sending to the wireless device a number of beam sweeps for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein sending to the wireless device an initial timing advance value based on the initial access signal comprises sending to the wireless device a plurality of PRACH formats for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein sending the refined timing advance value to the wireless device comprises sending to the wireless device one or more of a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signal and a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) signal. 
     
     
       12. A wireless device, comprising:
 a processor configured with processor executable instructions to:
 send an initial access signal to a base station; 
 receive from the base station an initial timing advance value responsive to the initial access signal; 
 send to the base station a next signal comprising a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) waveform via two or more uplink (UL) receive (Rx) points over two or more beams; 
 receive from the base station a refined timing advance value corresponding to one of the two or more UL Rx points; and 
 send a further signal to the base station via one of the two or more UL Rx points using the refined timing advance value. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to:
 receive from the base station a dedicated Random Access Channel (RACH) occasion, a PRACH format, and a PRACH sequence for the next signal; and 
 send the next signal using the dedicated RACH occasion, PRACH format, and PRACH sequence. 
 
     
     
       14. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to:
 receive from the base station a number of repetitions for the next signal; and 
 send the next signal using the number of repetitions. 
 
     
     
       15. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to:
 receive from the base station a number of beam sweeps for the next signal; and 
 send the next signal using the number of beam sweeps. 
 
     
     
       16. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to:
 receive from the base station a plurality of PRACH formats for the next signal; and 
 send the plurality of PRACH formats. 
 
     
     
       17. A base station, comprising:
 a processor configured with processor executable instructions to:
 receive an initial access signal from a wireless device; 
 send to the wireless device an initial timing advance value based on the initial access signal; 
 receive from the wireless device a next signal comprising a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) waveform via two or more uplink (UL) receive (Rx) points over two or more beams; 
 select a refined timing advance value based on the next signal received via the two or more UL Rx points, wherein the refined timing advance value corresponds to a UL Rx point from among the two or more UL Rx points; and 
 send the refined timing advance value to the wireless device. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The base station of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to send to the wireless device a dedicated Random Access Channel (RACH) occasion, a PRACH format, and a PRACH sequence for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       19. The base station of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to send to the wireless device a number of repetitions for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       20. The base station of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to send to the wireless device a number of beam sweeps for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       21. The base station of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to send to the wireless device a plurality of PRACH formats for the next signal from the wireless device. 
     
     
       22. The base station of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to send to the wireless device one or more of a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signal and a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) signal.